diff --git a/include/abg-tools-utils.h b/include/abg-tools-utils.h
index e62dda06..39caae6c 100644
--- a/include/abg-tools-utils.h
+++ b/include/abg-tools-utils.h
@@ -210,6 +210,17 @@ std::tr1::shared_ptr<char>
 make_path_absolute(const char*p);
 
 extern const char* PRIVATE_TYPES_SUPPR_SPEC_NAME;
-
 }// end namespace tools_utils
+
+/// A macro that expands to aborting the program when executed.
+///
+/// Before aborting, the macro emits informatin about the source
+/// location where it was expanded.
+#define ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED \
+  do {									\
+    std::cerr << "in " << __FUNCTION__					\
+	      << " at: " << __FILE__ << ":" << __LINE__			\
+	      << ": execution should not have reached this point!\n";	\
+      abort();								\
+  } while (false)
 }//end namespace abigail
diff --git a/src/abg-dwarf-reader.cc b/src/abg-dwarf-reader.cc
index 008c4253..8e7b36fd 100644
--- a/src/abg-dwarf-reader.cc
+++ b/src/abg-dwarf-reader.cc
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ stt_to_elf_symbol_type(unsigned char stt)
     default:
       // An unknown value that probably ought to be supported?  Let's
       // abort right here rather than yielding garbage.
-      abort();
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
     }
 
   return t;
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ stb_to_elf_symbol_binding(unsigned char stb)
       b = elf_symbol::GNU_UNIQUE_BINDING;
       break;
     default:
-      abort();
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
     }
 
   return b;
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ get_elf_class_size_in_bytes(Elf* elf_handle)
       result = 8;
       break;
     default:
-      abort();
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
     }
 
   return result;
@@ -9185,8 +9185,7 @@ build_ir_node_from_die(read_context&	ctxt,
       break;
     case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
       /* we shouldn't get here as this part is handled by build_array_type */
-      abort();
-      break;
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
     case DW_TAG_thrown_type:
       break;
     case DW_TAG_interface_type:
@@ -9201,8 +9200,7 @@ build_ir_node_from_die(read_context&	ctxt,
     case DW_TAG_compile_unit:
       // We shouldn't reach this point b/c this should be handled by
       // build_translation_unit.
-      abort();
-      break;
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
 
     case DW_TAG_namespace:
     case DW_TAG_module:
@@ -9374,8 +9372,7 @@ build_ir_node_from_die(read_context&	ctxt,
     case DW_TAG_formal_parameter:
       // We should not read this case as it should have been dealt
       // with by build_function_decl above.
-      abort();
-      break;
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
 
     case DW_TAG_constant:
       break;
@@ -9387,7 +9384,7 @@ build_ir_node_from_die(read_context&	ctxt,
       // For now, the DIEs under these are read lazily when they are
       // referenced by a public decl DIE that is under a
       // DW_TAG_compile_unit, so we shouldn't get here.
-      abort();
+      ABG_ASSERT_NOT_REACHED;
 
       // Other declaration we don't really intend to support yet.
     case DW_TAG_dwarf_procedure: